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Adûnakhôr was born in a time when most Númenóreans already had stopped using the Elven tongues generations before, although it was still customary for the Kings of Númenor to take their royal names in Quenya. When Ar-Adûnakhôr succeeded his father, however, he was the first King to break with tradition and took his title in Adûnaic.[1]

His name also was blasphemous, since its very meaning signifed "Lord of the West" and properly referred to the Valar, or Manwë himself. It was deemed as a direct challenge to the lordship of the Valar, and the Faithful Númenóreans (still loyal to the Valar) considered it ill-omened.[1]

In addition to taking an Adûnaic name, Ar-Adûnakhôr forbade the speaking of the Elven tongues in his presence and persecuted the Faithful. Because of the cold feelings of Ar-Adûnakhôr and most of his people to the Eldar and the Valar, Elven ships came from Tol Eressëa to the west of Númenor only seldom and in secret.[1]

Despite Ar-Adûnakhôr's hatred of the Elvish tongues his name was still recorded in the Scroll of Kings in High-elven form: Tar-Herunúmen.[2][3]

Adûnakhôr is an Adûnaic name that means "Lord of the West". It can be analyzed as adûn "West" (S.dûn) and khôr "Lord" (Q.heru). It is said that as a title, it signifies Manwe. Although the name was taken in defiance of Quenya, ironically its elements are said to be of Elvish origin.[4]